CBO Report Takes Aim at Pay and Benefits (Military)

Military.com ^ | 11/19/2012 | Terry Howell

[katiedidit1]

The plan to discourage retirees and families from relying on TRICARE has some support in the Senate.

CBO says restricting Prime access to retirees under 65 and their family members would save as much as $10 billion a year.

The servicemembers and retirees should be aware that the deal to avoid the “fiscal cliff” is likely to impact their families as much as the sequestration itself.

[ExNewsExSpook]

Here’s a question for the smart boys and girls at the CBO: what are military retirees (and their dependents) supposed to do in five or six years when private insurance no longer exists? Oh that’s right...get in the line for Obamacare, behind the 47-percenters.

[ExNewsExSpook]

One more thing (which never comes out in these articles, because the MSM wants you to believe the military retirees are flush with cash and insurance, and looking for tax shelters):

The average military retiree is an E-6 (SSG in the Army or Marine Corps; TSgt in the Air Force, or PO1 in the Navy). After 20 years of service, they receive about $1700 a month in their pensions, after taxes and deductions. In many localities, that big check might be enough to pay your mortgage and that’s about it. The typical military retiree needs every break they can get regarding health care, because private plans will soon disappear, and recent retirees are the lowest priority in the VA system.

All that, to save $10 billion a year.

[Jet Jaguar]

You are added.

[matginzac]

But they never get their ballots on time...

[matginzac]

Also respectfully request to be on ping list....
If we get screwed, I’d like to know from which direction....

[Jet Jaguar]

You are added.

[redgolum]

Sadly, this will happen. Just like cuts to Medicare and SS will happen.

This is also why we field mercs. Mercs are cheaper long term than US military personal.

[matginzac]

I know a Vietnam vet who will go bankrupt if they impose fees on Tricare For Life....his wife can barely walk as it is and needs the medical care.

[katiedidit1]

My husband is a Viet Nam vet too and has had several surgeries...pray they don't cut us and for your friend too. They are going to freeze cola's and up fees. This is on top of sequestration

[sten]

the last pensions to be reviewed should be military

first up should be all those local, state and federal employees with massive pension plans lasting decades with little monies contributed

[Cav16]

They always go after us Military folks first! I would like them to start with Congress, then all Federal employees, bozo phones, welfare and numerous other vote buying programs.

[Lmo56]

My Mom is 86 this year - born Navy, grew up Navy, married Navy - Hell, she BLEEDS Blue and Gold. Not to mention the 25+ years she has volunteered at Walter Reed/Bethesda ...

Between my 2 Grandfathers, my Dad, and myself - we have a combined 80 years of service ...

NO WAY IN HELL AM I GONNA LET THIS HAPPEN. Van Hollen is my Rep - I am going to tell him that I will do everything LEGALLY POSSIBLE to ENSURE that he loses his next election IF they cut the bennies. There is a LARGE retiree population in our District ...

These are NOT benefits that are GIVEN - they are EARNED !!!

[LibsRJerks]

NO WAY IN HELL AM I GONNA LET THIS HAPPEN. Van Hollen is my Rep - I am going to tell him that I will do everything LEGALLY POSSIBLE to ENSURE that he loses his next election IF they cut the bennies. There is a LARGE retiree population in our District ...

These are NOT benefits that are GIVEN - they are EARNED !!!

**
and if your rep does not comply? What then? What if the Senate overpowers your rep with their final votes?

What do we do with a government who behaves like this, which rewards criminalism, stupidity and SLOTH over patriotism, duty to country, and sacrifice (not to mention to diss those with the hard skills, physical and mental stamina required to serve in the Armed Forces?

It is LONG past due what we should “do” about a government like this.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks katiedidit1.

The plan to discourage retirees and families from relying on TRICARE has some support in the Senate.

[xzins]

They promised benefits at retirement for those who would for a 20+ year hitch risk their lives, live separated from home, endure hardship conditions, and give strict adherence to rules that stripped a number of rights.

That was the deal.

This is not some comfy-cozy teacher working 8-3, 5 days a week, for 9 months a year, with all federal and state holidays, snow days, and recovery days. And then going driving each afternoon back to the security of hearth and home.

Military career soldiers are the experienced core that makes a military work. Without them, the nation is virtually defenseless.

What was promised should be paid.

[Domalais]

There seems to be some confusion in this thread.

The CBO does not make suggestions. The CBO takes a request that some member of Congress makes, like ‘hey, find out how much money we would save/spend if we all wore fruit on our heads’ and they do the math on it.

So, in this case, some Congresscritter has asked the CBO to research what can be saved by cutting into military benefits. The correct target of your ire is that critter, not the CBO. They’re just nerds with calculators.

[Domalais]

Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, in his role as chairman of the House Budget Committee, requested the report.

Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, embraced this idea last year in a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Debt Reduction...

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,252242,00.html

[Domalais]

Woops, broken link.

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,252242,00.html

[3Fingas]

With friends like these, who needs enemies?

[OldGoatCPO]

The “working age” of 65 is a straw man argument. At 60, retirees lose access to Military Treatment Facilities and at age 65 retirees lose TRICARE and are put on Medicaid/Medicare. Essentially no military retiree living outside of 40 miles from a MTF will be allowed to have TRICARE Prime or be able to afford TRICARE Standard. Studies have definitively shown that compared to civilian counterparts (except for first responders) military retirees face an earlier onset of arthritis and other medical conditions related to everything from combat and stress, firing weapons or just maintaining a required high level of physical fitness even into their 50’s. The truth is that TRICARE Prime is not for me, it is for my family. I have 100% (not everyone gets that) coverage by the VA. They can and should raise the premiums and co-pays. But TRICARE should also offer an HSP t offset increased costs. I pay out over $6K in health insurance premiums to cover dental, and utilize an HSP. The HSP is great, but it is not offered to retirees, I purchase it through my spouses employer.
Call your Congress critter and let them know, any cuts or changes to military benefits need to see a corresponding cut to Fed subsidies to Union retirement plans, Obama cell phones, return to land lines only, free computer programs etc...